Bedside storage satchel

ABSTRACT

A bedside storage device comprising two satchels connected for placing in any size bed. The connected pair of satchels store personal items by the sides of the bed. A connector strap has hook and loop fastening to enable the arrangement by folding to fit the bed. The connector strap is placed between the box spring and the mattress or on the mattress under the bedsheet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/221,559, filed Jul. 28, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to bedding accessories. More specifically, the invention is a pair of satchels having an adjustable connection for storing small personal items and adapted for use with any size bed.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] The related art of interest describes various satchels, but none discloses the present invention. There is a need for a satchel device for storing reading material, pens, glasses and the like by a bed of any size by having a connection adjustable in length.

[0006] The related art will be discussed in the order of perceived relevance to the present invention.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,909 issued on Dec. 19, 1978, to Angela Riehl describes an appliance device having pockets for the storage of articles. A sheet-like member reaches across and beyond the width of a bed so that pockets in the member hang along both sides of the bed. The appliance device is distinguishable for failing to suggest that the center planar member can be adjusted in length.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,829 issued on Dec. 10, 1996, to Christian Lee describes a bedding apparel or accessory device with pockets at the ends of a sheet strip placed between the mattress and the spring support or even on top of the mattress under a sheet. There are two panels on each side fashioned as leaves. The top leaf or panel has two pockets and can be flipped up to expose the bottom leaf having only a single pocket to form a hidden storage chamber. Buttons, zippers or hook and loop fastening can replace the stitching of the panels. The bedding apparel device is distinguishable for requiring two pocketed panels in leaf form on each side of the bed and failing to suggest that the connecting strip can be folded to fit any size bed.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,235 issued on Feb. 25, 1997, to Rhonda D. Johnson describes a remote control holder device having a single rigid pocket with a vertical rear section connected to a horizontal extension or support arm made from planar rod stock or wire which fits under a cushion of a sofa. The holder device is distinguish-able for requiring only one pocket and for use on a sofa.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,501 issued on Nov. 20, 1984, to Tillman L. Eddy describes a plastic gun holster holder device hanging from an elongated panel or strip placed between a box spring and a mattress. The device is distinguishable for its limitation for hanging a gun holster.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,152 issued on Jul. 29, 1997, to June E. Ritchie et al. describes a removably attachable storage organizer device which hangs on a hospital bed rail comprising a plurality of pockets on both sides of the organizer device and a handle. The device is distinguishable for its handle structure.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,930 issued on Jun. 11, 1985, to Jack C. Henson describes a pistol mounting bracket device for a bed. The bracket has a horizontal support arm for fitting under the mattress, and a vertical holding arm for supporting a holster and a flanged end for supporting the belt loop of the holster. The device is distinguishable for its unique singular structure.

[0013] U.S. Design Pat. No. 418,295 issued on Jan. 4, 2000, to Roger C. Verhulst describes an organizer device having various protruding pockets, end clips and held up by straps. The device is distinguishable for its numerous pockets of varying size and the straps and clips.

[0014] U.S. Design Pat. No. 392,613 issued on Mar. 24, 1998, to C. Denise Peters describes an organizer device for armrests of recreational vehicle seats and other chairs comprising a looped structure with several pockets on the outside portion and a single pocket on the inside portion. The bottom ends of each organizer portion are secured by hook and loop fastening. The device is distinguishable for being limited to an armrest.

[0015] U.K. Patent Application No. 905,708 published on Sep. 12, 1962, for Terence N. Young describes an attachment device to a bed comprising a tray or container member passing across a bed and held at its ends by a pair of frame members traveling across a side rail. The device is distinguishable for its frame structure.

[0016] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention is directed to a connected pair of satchels for storing personal items by the sides of the bed. A connector strap has hook and loop fastening to enable the arrangement by folding to fit any size bed. The connecting strip is placed, preferably, between the box spring and the mattress.

[0018] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a connected pair of satchels for fitting any size bed.

[0019] It is another object of the invention to provide a connected pair of satchels with a connector strap capable of being fixedly folded to fit any size bed.

[0020] It is a further object of the invention to provide a pair of satchels having a connector strap having hook and loop fastening strips on its sides.

[0021] Still another object of the invention is to provide a connected pair of satchels with a connector strap adapted to fit either between a mattress and a box spring or on the mattress under the sheet.

[0022] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0023] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of one bedside storage satchel of a pair employed on a bed according to the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of one satchel.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one satchel device including part of the folded connector strap for fitting a bed.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the two satchel device including the folded connector strap to fit the bed.

[0028] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] The present invention is directed in FIGS. 1 through 4 to a bedside storage device 10 comprising a pair of first and second satchels 12 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) and 14 (FIGS. 3 and 4), respectively, placed in a bed 16 between a mattress 18 and a box spring 20 (FIG. 1). The first satchel 12 has two rows of pockets having compartments for storing temporarily personal bedside items such as a remote control device 22, pens 24, marker pen 26, and a tablet pad 28 in the bottom segregated row 30 and a book 32 in the upper unsegregated row 34.

[0030] In FIGS. 3 and 4, an elongated connector strap 36 having hook and loop fasteners 38 along its longitudinal edges 38 connects the first satchel 12 and the second satchel 14. The bedside storage device 10 can be placed on either side of the bed 16 to properly extend and hang for placement of bedside items such as a remote telephone 40 in addition to the other sundry items mentioned above.

[0031] Thus, a bedside storage device 10 has been shown having the capability of hanging the satchels 12 and 14 accurately along the sides of the bed 16. The ensemble can be placed also between the bedsheet 42 and the mattress 18 in FIG. 1.

[0032] The bedside storage device 10 can be made of a durable cloth fabric or thin canvas which can be repeatedly washed and reused. The satchels can be approximately 13.25 inches wide and 13.75 inches deep.

[0033] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A bedside storage device comprising: at least one satchel having an elongated strap and having a plurality of compartments, the strap being adapted for insertion between a mattress and a box spring of a bed in order to support the satchel at a side of the bed; said compartments being arranged in at least two rows of pockets; the satchel having a first row of said compartments having a plurality of pockets sized and dimensioned for storing small different sized articles; and the satchel having at least a second row of said compartments positioned above said first row and having a single pocket sized and dimensioned for storing larger size articles.
 2. The bedside storage device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one satchel comprises a pair of satchels, said pair of satchels being disposed at opposite ends of the strap, whereby the strap is capable of supporting one of said pair of satchels on opposite sides of a bed when the strap is placed across a bed between a mattress and a box spring.
 3. The bedside storage device according to claim 2, 1 further comprising means for adjusting the length of the strap to accommodate a width of a bed.
 4. The bedside storage device according to claim 2, further comprising a first strip of hook and loop fastening material attached along a first longitudinal edge and a second strip of hook and loop material attached along an opposite longitudinal edge of the strap, whereby the strap may be folded with said first and second strips of hook and loop material doubled over and fastened to adjust the length of the strap to accommodate the width of a bed.
 5. A method of storing personal items on the sides of a bed comprising: providing a pair of satchels having a plurality of compartments for storing temporarily personal bedside items at a side of a bed, the bed having a width; providing an elongated connector strap having hook and loop fasteners along its longitudinal edges connecting said pair of satchels; placing the elongated connector strap between a mattress and a supporting box spring or above the mattress and under a bedsheet; placing the pair of satchels on the sides of the bed; and sizing the strap to fit the width of any bed by folding the strap and fastening the hook and loop fasteners together on opposite sides of the strap. 